Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1887-05-19
WANT IT SUSPENDED.
ARGUMENTS HEARD ON THE APPLICATION
FOR PERMANENT SUSPENSION
or the Fourth Section Of the Interstate Law o.
the Queen and Crescent SyStsm-PrOximty to
the Mississippi River Urged as Reason
for the Suspension Asked

WASHINGTON, May ls.-The Interstate
Commerce Commission devoted some time
to-day to hearing arguments on the apPli,
cation of the Queen and Crescent raliroau
system for permanent suspension oi sec-
ton four of the Interstate Commerce law
john C. Gault, general manager OF the
system, first addressed the Commission
He pointed out that the line Of the Queen
and Crescent roads was in general proxlm-
ity to the Mississippi river and other water
routes.
Chairman Cooley inquired at what points
they sought relief.
Mr.. Gault replied that they wished to be
relieved from this competition wherever 1t
affected the system. He read petition
prepared by the officers Of the road setting
out the effect Of the water com
petition in reducing cotton rates
with view to demonstrating
the Justice of their request to have the
temporary suspension made permanent. IL
was stated in the paper that the practice
of steamboat lines has been to make daily
such rates rs may be necessary to enabie
them to secure the traffic.
Chairman Cooley asked if in fixing rates
any account WAS taken ofthe
EFFECT UPON THE TOWNS
or were they fixed simply in the interest oi
the roads. Something had been said about
competitiOn as a reason why rates should
be cut down.
Mr.. ultreplied that his road had little
to do with fixing the rates-that was done
bv the Southern railway association. he
did not wholly approve of the system
that governed the regulation Of these rates
He believed in fixing rates that would be
lust to all, and he would rather have
dozen thriving towns on his road than 9
large city. His road was willing and ank'
ious to give the law q fair trial, and only
asked TO be relieved of water competition
that meant the
ONO AND MISSISSIPPI
rivers chiefly.
After some further talk, chiefly upon
suppositious cases of competition, Mr..
Gault gave way to Gen. Black, Commits
sioner of Pensions, as q committee OF one,
representing the Board of Managers of the
National Volunteer Soldiers Home, asking
for suspension, modification or some legal
arrangement by which inmates OF the
homes might be permitted to continue the
endowment of hall fare rates on railroads.
He told of the beneficial results following
the practice of allowing the inmates OF the
homes to travel from one home to another,
OF elsewhere; stated they were
TOO POOR TO PAY FULL FARE,
and expressed the belief that the statement
that the law would not be violated by con
tlnuing the issue of half fare tickets i'll
/ such cases would be elleCtual with rail
road companies. 1t was intimated by
! Commissioner Morrison, that the law did
not prohibit such concessions, but Com
missioner Black said he thought q state
ment to that effect by the Board would be
necessary to secure that privilege. No tina
action was taken OH the subject.
Representative Cabell, OF Virginia, ap-
pearcd for the Board of Trade Of Danville
| Virginia. and made complaint against The
Richmond and Danville railroad. Since
that road had acquired control of the Nir
ginia Midland railroad, he said rates haC
been greatly advanced and the interests o
the town ruined This had been done by
discrimination, indirect drawbacks, viola
tion of the long and short haul provisions
of the law, etc. This closed the hearing
for the day.